while away
phrasal verb
whiled away; whiling away; whiles away
: to spend (time) doing something pleasant and easy
We whiled away the afternoon with a walk around the garden.
Examples of while away in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The next challenge will be staying in football shape while away from the team.
—
Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
My husband whiled away the time petting the shop’s playful kitten, just one of the many cats this store has fostered.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Days after that Newport whirlwind, Goodman holed up in a coffee shop in Midtown Manhattan to while away the hours before opening for Patty Griffin at Sony Hall by reflecting on Newport and the weeks since Planting by the Signs hit streaming sites and record stores.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2025
What weary American, accustomed to a life of big-box stores and gig work, wouldn’t be charmed by the opportunity to while away the hours at a table at an outdoor café instead of one in an all-night diner?
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for while away
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Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
My husband whiled away the time petting the shop’s playful kitten, just one of the many cats this store has fostered.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Days after that Newport whirlwind, Goodman holed up in a coffee shop in Midtown Manhattan to while away the hours before opening for Patty Griffin at Sony Hall by reflecting on Newport and the weeks since Planting by the Signs hit streaming sites and record stores.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2025
What weary American, accustomed to a life of big-box stores and gig work, wouldn’t be charmed by the opportunity to while away the hours at a table at an outdoor café instead of one in an all-night diner?
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for while away
Cite this Entry
“While away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/while%20away. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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